Sandy Bay woman to be tried on charges of stealing $200,000

A SANDY Bay woman will be tried on charges that she stole over $200,000 of Government funds.

At the age of 32 years, domestic worker Fiziela Clarke stands accused of crimes dating back to 2016.

The first count laid against the young woman alleges that she, between October 1, 2016, and November 20, 2016, stole EC $2,859.45, the property of the Government of St Vincent and the Grenadines(SVG).

Further, between January 5, 2017 and December 31, 2017, she is accused of stealing EC $53,871; between January 4, 2018 and December 29, 2018, EC$ 107,627.27; and between January 3, 2019 and June 1, 2019, EC$46,765.62 of Government money.

Therefore, the total amount of money that the Government has allegedly been permanently deprived of stands at $211,159.34.

Clarke appeared before the Georgetown Magistrate’s Court on Tuesday, May 24, where she maintained that she was not guilty of the offences.

Bail is open to the defendant but she must find someone to stand as her surety for the EC$200,000 bail amount.

Should Clarke secure her freedom for the duration of the trial she will have to report to the Sandy Bay police station every Monday between 6 am and 6 pm.

She will be required to surrender her travel documents to the court and stop notices will be placed against her at all ports of entry and exit.

The defendant will return to court on September 5, 2022. This is not the first time that the young woman will be going through the legal process as it relates to Government funds. When she was 29 years old, Clarke was charged that she stole $1527.50 on July 5, 2019. At that time she was an employee of the Ministry of Agriculture and had been working there for 11 years.

However, there was a trial at the Kingstown Magistrate’s Court during which she was represented by lawyer Israel Bruce.

On February 7, 2020, Clarke was acquitted of the charge.